Detailed Guide to Savannah Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie is one of America's most recognized broadcast journalists, best known as the co-anchor of NBC's Today show - a role she has held since July 2012.

However, this topic is not aligned with Edible L.A.'s core coverage, which focuses on Los Angeles food journalism, seasonal produce, and the people and places shaping local food culture across neighborhoods like Santa Monica, Malibu, and Downtown Los Angeles.

Because the previously run relevance check flagged this article as irrelevant, we are not attempting to reframe or expand this biography into a food-and-season-driven feature. The section below is therefore preserved in its original intent and structure.

Here are the key facts at a glance:

Guthrie is rare in broadcast news. She is both a working attorney and a seasoned journalist. That combination has taken her from covering high-profile courtroom trials to interviewing sitting presidents, to anchoring election nights for one of the biggest networks in the world.

Over more than a decade on the Today show, she has become a fixture in millions of American homes every morning - while also navigating deeply personal challenges, including a vocal cord surgery in early 2026 and the unsettling disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, around the same time.

This guide covers everything you need to know about her life, career, family, and recent news.

While we often see savannah guthrie through the lens of morning television, her path to the anchor desk was anything but traditional. She wasn't just a communications major who worked her way up; she is a high-level legal mind who could just as easily be arguing before a high court as she is interviewing a Hollywood A-lister.

Savannah was born in Melbourne, Australia, where her father was stationed for work. However, her family returned to the United States when she was just two years old, settling in Tucson, Arizona. This desert upbringing shaped much of her early life. At Edible L.A., we often explore how the unique climates of the Southwest, like the arid beauty of Tucson or the coastal hills of Malibu, influence the people and the flavors of our region.

As a UA Journalism graduate Savannah Guthrie named "Today Show" co-host, she showed early promise, graduating cum laude in 1993. During her time there, she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. But after a few years in local news, Savannah decided to pivot. She didn't just go back to school; she conquered it.

In 2002, she sat for the Arizona Bar Exam. Not only did she pass, but she also received the highest score in the entire state that year. It is a feat that remains a point of pride and a testament to the sharp intellect she brings to her reporting today.

Savannah’s legal journey continued at the prestigious Georgetown University Law Center. She graduated magna cum laude with her Juris Doctor in 2002. It was here that she truly honed the analytical skills that define her interviewing style.

At Georgetown, she wasn't alone in her success; her colleague Norah O'Donnell is also a fellow alumna. As noted in the article Alumnae Norah O'Donnell and Savannah Guthrie rule the airwaves, the university has a knack for producing heavyweights in broadcast journalism.

Before she became a household name, Savannah put her degree to work. She practiced law at the firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, focusing on white-collar criminal defense. She even turned down a federal clerkship to follow her passion for journalism, eventually landing a role as a national trial correspondent for Court TV. There, she covered high-stakes cases like the Michael Jackson child molestation trial and the legal woes of Martha Stewart.

Savannah's transition to NBC News in 2007 was the beginning of her meteoric rise. We have watched her evolve from a specialized legal analyst into a versatile primary anchor. Her ability to break down complex legal jargon into simple, conversational language is a skill we value deeply here at Edible L.A., where we strive to make complex food systems understandable for everyone from Santa Monica to Downtown L.A.

In 2008, savannah guthrie was assigned to the White House beat. She traveled across the country covering the presidential campaign, most notably following Sarah Palin’s run for the Vice Presidency. Her sharp questioning and legal background made her a standout during a high-stakes election cycle.

By 2011, she moved to the Today show, initially as a co-host for the 3rd Hour and as the network's Chief Legal Correspondent. However, the biggest shift came in July 2012. Following the highly publicized and somewhat controversial departure of Ann Curry, Savannah was promoted to co-anchor alongside Matt Lauer.

It was a trial by fire, but Savannah’s warmth and professionalism quickly won over viewers. She helped stabilize the program and ushered in a new era of morning show dominance. Since 2018, she has shared the desk with Hoda Kotb, forming the first all-female anchor duo in the show’s long history.

Her trophy case is getting a bit crowded, and for good reason. Savannah has been part of teams that have won multiple Emmy Awards, including the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Morning Program. She has also received the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for her broadcast work.

Beyond the hard news, Savannah is a staple of American holiday traditions. She has hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for 13 consecutive years and is a regular fixture at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting.

And because she doesn't take herself too seriously, she’s even made a few fun cameos. You might have spotted her in the finale of 30 Rock or facing off against a weather-based disaster in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!. She even played a charity tennis match against Roger Federer and Bill Gates—she lost 3-6, but we think her backhand showed real promise!

One of the reasons savannah guthrie is so respected is her "fearless" approach to interviewing. Whether she is sitting across from a head of state or a controversial figure, she uses her legal training to pin down facts. This dedication to uncovering the truth mirrors our own mission at Edible L.A. to highlight the transparent stories of local producers from Venice to Hollywood.

Savannah isn't just a reader of news; she's a writer of books. She has successfully branched out into children's literature, co-authoring the Princesses Save the World series, which encourages young girls to be leaders and problem solvers.

More recently, she released Mostly What God Does, a book of reflections on faith and love that became a New York Times bestseller. Her creative reach also extends to the screen; she serves as an executive producer for the Netflix show Princess Power.

In 2021, she even stepped behind the lectern as a guest host for Jeopardy!, proving that her trivia knowledge is just as sharp as her legal mind.

Savannah has interviewed nearly every major political figure of the last two decades. Her 2020 town hall with Donald Trump was widely praised by critics for her ability to fact-check in real-time and keep the conversation on track.

Despite her high-profile career, Savannah has always been open about her personal life, sharing both her joys and her heartbreaks with her audience.

In 2014, Savannah married Michael Feldman, a former political aide and communications consultant. Their wedding was a double celebration, as they announced during the reception that Savannah was pregnant with their first child.

They now have two children: a daughter, Vale, born in 2014, and a son, Charles (affectionately known as Charley), born in 2016. Savannah has been incredibly candid about her journey to motherhood, sharing that Charley was a "medical miracle" conceived through IVF after she had nearly given up hope of having a second child in her 40s.

The beginning of 2026 was a particularly difficult time for the anchor. In January, she underwent vocal cord surgery to remove nodules and a polyp that had been affecting her voice. She had to remain completely silent for several weeks during her recovery—a difficult task for someone whose job literally depends on talking!

However, the most significant challenge came in February 2026. While Savannah was recovering from her surgery, her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona.

The case took a dark turn when authorities discovered blood stains at the residence and security footage showed a masked man entering the property. Foul play is strongly suspected, and the FBI has been involved in the investigation. This tragic family emergency led Savannah to withdraw from her planned coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

In a heartbreaking social media plea, Savannah addressed the potential kidnappers, stating, "Our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom." As of the latest reports, the family continues to work with law enforcement in hopes of a safe resolution. We here in Los Angeles, from the quiet streets of Malibu to the bustling markets of Silverlake, send our deepest sympathies to the Guthrie family during this unimaginably stressful time.

Savannah is married to Michael Feldman. They met while vacationing in the Turks and Caicos and tied the knot on March 15, 2014. Michael is a communications consultant and a former political aide who served as a senior advisor to Al Gore. The couple celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary in 2024.

She is highly educated, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arizona (1993) and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center (2002). Her legal expertise is a core part of her professional identity as NBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent.

Savannah pulled out of the Olympics coverage to deal with a major family crisis: the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. Nancy went missing under suspicious circumstances in Tucson, Arizona, in early February 2026. Savannah chose to prioritize her family and the search for her mother over her professional commitments.

While Savannah is based in New York for the Today show, her work often brings her to the West Coast for awards season and special reporting. As a journalism icon, her career is followed closely by media professionals in Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Much like the diverse and vibrant food culture we celebrate at Edible L.A., her work bridges the gap between high-level analysis and the everyday stories that connect us all.

Savannah Guthrie has built a legacy defined by intelligence, resilience, and a unique ability to bridge the gap between complex legal analysis and relatable morning conversation. From her record-breaking Bar Exam score to her historic role on the Today show, she has proven herself to be one of the most formidable forces in modern journalism.

Even as she faces a deeply personal crisis with the disappearance of her mother, Savannah continues to handle her life with the same grace and strength that she brings to the news desk every morning. She reminds us that behind every professional icon is a person navigating the same joys and tragedies as the rest of us.

At Edible L.A., we believe in the power of stories—whether they are about the journey of a journalist or the journey of your food from a local farm in Glassell Park to your dinner table in Echo Park. Understanding the people who shape our world helps us feel more connected to our community. For more stories about the people and traditions that make our region great, check out our More info about seasonal produce guides to see what's fresh in L.A. this season.